In what was a physical and scrappy contest, the Geelong Cats, lead by the heroics of young guns Alan Christensen and Steven Motlop, managed to sneak home to record their first victory of the year against the Box Hill Hawks on Saturday afternoon.

The young Cats held early dominance, but could not convert in front of goal, scoring 3.9 in the opening quarter. This could have easily instead been a 6 goal lead if the Cats had have made most of their opportunities forward.

First year players Jordan Schroder and Cameron Guthrie set the scene early, with their willingness to put their bodies on the line for the team and harass the opposition to lock the ball in the Cats forward 50. Mitch Brown also was showing the intensity needed to take the next step to AFL level. There were no easy goals for either side, with players having to fight, and scrap for almost every possession.

Exiled Premiership forward Tom Hawkins kicked the first major of the game, making the few Cats fans that had made the roadtrip get really excited. His workrate in the forward line and ability to link up play up the ground was also influential throughout the entire afternoon.

Dawson Simpson was all over experienced ruckmen David Hale and Brent Renouf, and capitalised with a long range goal, after a bone crushing tackle to win a free kick.

Derick Wanganeen was one of few shining lights for the Hawks in the opening quarter, along with Rick Ladson, the two wreaking havoc on the Cats midfield and defense.

In the second quarter, the game opened up slightly, with most of the game being played between the two fifty metre arcs.

Despite the Cats winning a lot of clearances, and contested ball, the Hawks were the ones able to generate the scoreboard pressure, piling on six goals to two for the quarter, and taking a seven point lead into the major break.

Issac Smith, and Jarryd Morton were the main destroyers for the Hawks regularly sending the ball deep inside the Hawks 50.

In a rare highlight for the Cats in the second term, Casey Tutungi made a great chase and tackle combination, Steven Motlop swooped on the footy and delivered into the hands of Tom Hawkins, who put through his second for the game.

When the chips were down in the second half, Allen Christensen showed why he will be a regular AFL starter in the years to come.

Whether it be through the midfield, or applying forward pressure, the ex-Geelong Falcon showed why Geelong officials are so excited about his future.

But again, despite the Cats total dominance through the midfield, from the likes of Christensen, Jonathon Simpkin, and the experienced Shannon Byrnes, the Hawks were able to kick away to a 14 point lead, after capitalising on some Geelong errors in the defensive half.

After Jordan Schroder kicked the first of the term, the Hawks were able to kick two quick goals at the ten minute mark, before the Cats defense steadied, thanks mainly to Andrew McLean and Tom Gillies.

Jaxson Barham was thriving in the tight contest; racking up touches from half forward and the wing which led to him playing his best game for the club since leaving Collingwood at the end of last year.

Jayden Cass made it 14 points for the Hawks, but after a late Cats goal, the margin was still seven points at the final change.

It was a tug of war for the better part of the last quarter.

Ben Raidme stood up, along with a host of others. Motlop, who had ran himself to the point of exhaustion found the poise to stayed calm, and slotted two late, last quarter goals; and best on ground Christensen was everywhere in last 30 minutes.

David Hale and Rick Ladson did all they could to win the game for the Hawks, but the Cats pressure, and some crucial errors by their younger team-mates would ultimately allow the Cats to run out one point winners; the winning behind being scored by that man, Christensen.

After an intense, and dramatic dogfight, in which the Cats lost ruckman Trent West early, Geelong scraped home for their first win of the season, celebrating in style and giving stand in Coach Matthew Egan a big reason to smile.

Geelong Cats 11-16-(82)
Box Hill Hawks 12-9-(81)
Goals: Schroder, Hawkins, Motlop, Raidme 2, Simpson, Simpkin, Baker 1.
Best: Christensen, Simpkin, Brown, Gillies, Corrigan, Hollmer.